Does the iconic black cube in Astor Place (called the Alamo) have a doppelganger hanging out in Westchester County? The Scout was recently driving around the suburbs when he spotted a black cube—similar to Manhattan's own in size and design—through the trees. He reports back that it is indeed a Rosenthal cube (designed by artist Tony Rosenthal)—and according to the artist's website, pretty much everyone has one of these things! They're all over the country, even in Ohio (maybe that's why New York artists are drawn to Cleveland). Perhaps it's time we put another original spin on our cube, maybe turn it back into a giant Rubik's Cube. more ›

According to The Villager, all artist Arnie Charnick wants to do is transform that cube in Astor Place – a kinetic sculpture called “The Alamo” – into a giant craps table. Charnick’s vision would temporarily turn the big cube into a die with white Velcro dots, drop in a second giant die next to it, paint the Astor place island like a craps table, add some manhole-sized chips (one of which would actually be a manhole!) and string a 17-foot-high banner between two lampposts, depicting a casino-like scene. Clever, right? Not to the agent who represents Tony Rosenthal, the artist who made “The Alamo”:

Can you go into the Museum of Modern Art and draw on a Picasso painting? I don’t think so. What is the point of allowing someone else to capitalize on Mr. Rosenthal’s important and famous Work of Art by letting someone else modify or change or revise this Sculpture? Why not be an Artist, and create your own Art? If you want to be famous, rape Britney Spears and you’ll get in the newspaper.